ISLAMABAD; Political and legal battles surrounding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intensified on Saturday as the Sessions Court in Islamabad sent 40 PTI workers to jail on judicial remand over a protest at Faisal Avenue, while in a parallel development, PTI founder Imran Khan’s counsel filed additional documents in the Supreme Court in connection with bail petitions linked to the May 9 cases.
According to court proceedings, Judicial Magistrate Rizwan ud Din heard the case concerning the detained PTI workers, who were arrested two days earlier for chanting slogans and staging a demonstration at Faisal Avenue.
Police sought a 10-day physical remand, but the request was opposed by the defense, who argued that CCTV footage would prove that the protest was peaceful and no obstruction of traffic occurred. The counsel further alleged that the workers were held in unlawful custody before being brought to court. The judge, after hearing both sides, rejected the police plea and instead ordered that all arrested individuals be sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand.
Meanwhile, in the country’s highest court, Imran Khan’s legal team filed an application attaching eight judicial orders and decisions from subordinate and high courts as part of his ongoing plea for bail in the May 9-related cases.
The Supreme Court has fixed the hearing for August 19, where a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa will take up the matter. The additional documents, the defense maintains, are intended to strengthen Khan’s position and highlight procedural flaws in earlier rulings.
The developments underscore the widening legal pressure on PTI. Since the violent protests of May 9, 2023—triggered by Imran Khan’s arrest—hundreds of party leaders and workers have faced trials under anti-terrorism and public disorder charges. While the government and security institutions accuse PTI of orchestrating the unrest, the party insists that the cases are politically motivated and aimed at sidelining its leadership ahead of future elections.
Observers note that Saturday’s court actions reflect the broader pattern of simultaneous legal challenges faced by PTI at multiple levels—from its founder fighting for bail in the Supreme Court to workers being sent to jail over protest-related charges in the capital. Legal analysts suggest that the Supreme Court hearing on August 19 could set the tone for how the judiciary handles the dozens of May 9 cases still pending across the country.
